time series
23 articlesUnsupervised Anomaly Detection in Satellite Time Series: When AI Learns 'Normal'
How unsupervised methods flag change in a satellite time series without labelled training data — from the ±2σ rule to seasonal decomposition and isolation forests — and how to watch an area for anomalies without writing code.
2026-07-01 · 7 min read
MODIS Satellite Data: The Daily, Decades-Long View of Earth
MODIS provides daily global coverage and a 20+ year archive at 250m-1km resolution. Learn what MODIS measures, its key products (NDVI, land surface temperature, active fire), how it trades resolution for frequency, and when coarse-resolution daily data beats high-resolution imagery.
2026-06-20 · 4 min read
The Landsat Program: A Complete Guide to 50+ Years of Earth Observation
Landsat is the longest continuous record of Earth's surface from space, running since 1972. Learn how Landsat 8 and 9 work, what their OLI and TIRS sensors measure, how the 30m archive enables long-term change detection, and how Landsat compares to Sentinel-2.
2026-06-18 · 5 min read
Harmonized Landsat Sentinel (HLS): One Consistent Time Series from Two Sensors
HLS merges Landsat 8/9 and Sentinel-2 into a single, atmospherically corrected 30m dataset with 2-3 day revisit. Learn how harmonization works, what HLSL30 and HLSS30 contain, and when a fused time series beats a single sensor.
2026-06-17 · 5 min read
Environmental Compliance Monitoring with Satellite Imagery
Satellite time series monitoring allows companies, NGOs, and regulators to objectively verify deforestation commitments, track ESG land use pledges, and monitor supply chain sourcing areas. Learn how NDVI and SAR time series create an always-on compliance monitoring system.
2026-04-13 · 8 min read
Multi-Index Satellite Monitoring: Why One Sensor Is Never Enough
Monitoring a site with a single index misses events that only appear in other data streams. Combining NDVI, SAR backscatter, NDWI, and nighttime lights for the same polygon creates a complete picture that no single sensor can provide.
2026-04-12 · 8 min read
Flood Monitoring with Sentinel-1 SAR Time Series: Tracking Inundation from Space
SAR backscatter time series from Sentinel-1 detects flood onset, peak inundation, and recession through clouds. Learn how VV backscatter drops indicate flooding, how to set up continuous flood monitoring zones, and how to interpret SAR time series for disaster response.
2026-04-11 · 9 min read
Wildfire Recovery Monitoring: From Burn Scar to Regrowth
Post-fire vegetation recovery is one of the most revealing applications of satellite time series monitoring. NBR and NDVI together track the complete trajectory from fire damage through initial regrowth to mature vegetation recovery, revealing ecological resilience and identifying areas at risk of degradation.
2026-04-08 · 8 min read
Coastal Change Monitoring with NDWI and SAR Time Series
Coastal zones are among the most dynamic and threatened environments on Earth. NDWI time series from Sentinel-2 and SAR from Sentinel-1 together provide continuous monitoring of shoreline change, mangrove extent, coral reefs, and tidal dynamics. Learn how to set up multi-index coastal monitoring.
2026-04-06 · 8 min read
Seasonal Crop Monitoring with NDVI Time Series: From Planting to Harvest
NDVI time series from Sentinel-2 reveals the complete crop growth cycle — planting date, peak canopy, stress events, and harvest timing. Learn how to set up crop monitoring, identify the key phenological stages, and detect anomalies that signal crop failure or irrigation problems.
2026-04-05 · 12 min read
Post-Disaster Recovery Monitoring with Satellite Time Series
Satellite time series monitoring tracks the recovery trajectory after floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and other disasters. Learn how NDVI, SAR backscatter, NDWI, and nighttime lights collectively reveal what has recovered, what has not, and where recovery is lagging.
2026-04-04 · 8 min read
Monitoring Water Surface Changes with NDWI and MNDWI Time Series
NDWI and MNDWI time series from Sentinel-2 track changes in open water extent, reservoir levels, and flood dynamics. Learn how to set up water body monitoring, interpret seasonal patterns, and detect anomalies like drought drawdown or sudden flooding.
2026-04-01 · 7 min read
Monitoring Economic Activity and Infrastructure with VIIRS Nighttime Light Time Series
VIIRS nighttime light (DNB) time series from NASA Black Marble tracks economic activity, electrification, conflict impacts, and post-disaster recovery. Learn how to monitor any area's nighttime brightness over time and interpret what changes mean.
2026-03-30 · 8 min read
Satellite Anomaly Detection in Time Series Data: How It Works
Anomaly detection in satellite time series identifies data points that deviate significantly from expected seasonal patterns. Learn how statistical methods flag unusual events in NDVI, SAR backscatter, and other indices — and how to distinguish real environmental events from noise.
2026-03-27 · 9 min read
SAR Backscatter Time Series: Detecting Change with All-Weather Radar
Sentinel-1 SAR backscatter time series detects land surface changes regardless of cloud cover or daylight. Learn how VV, VH intensity, RVI, RFDI, and Cross Ratio respond to flooding, deforestation, vegetation growth, and construction events.
2026-03-26 · 7 min read
Vegetation Index Time Series Monitoring with Sentinel-2
NDVI, EVI, SAVI and other vegetation indices from Sentinel-2 are most powerful when tracked over time. Learn how time series monitoring reveals seasonal cycles, stress events, and long-term trends in forests, croplands, and grasslands.
2026-03-20 · 8 min read
How to Monitor Any Area with Satellite Time Series: A Complete Guide
Area monitoring with satellite time series lets you automatically track changes in any region over weeks, months, or years. Learn how to set up a monitoring zone, choose the right index, and interpret results using Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and VIIRS data.
2026-03-19 · 11 min read
Change Detection from Space: Three Approaches That Actually Work
Not all change detection methods are equal. This post compares image differencing, NDVI time-series, and SAR coherence-based approaches with real-world guidance on when to use each one.
2026-01-22 · 7 min read
Satellite Image Compositing and Mosaicking: Creating Cloud-Free Views from Multiple Scenes
How temporal compositing and spatial mosaicking combine multiple satellite images into seamless, cloud-free products. Covers compositing methods (median, medoid, best-pixel), quality metrics, and practical considerations.
2025-12-31 · 9 min read
Open Data Cube: Managing and Analyzing Satellite Time Series at Scale
How the Open Data Cube framework organizes analysis-ready satellite data for efficient time series queries. Covers architecture, indexing, and practical use cases in national-scale monitoring systems.
2025-11-11 · 6 min read
Forest Degradation vs. Deforestation: Why Detecting Degradation Is Harder
The distinction between deforestation (complete removal) and degradation (partial loss of forest quality), why satellites struggle with degradation detection, and emerging approaches using SAR, time series analysis, and AI.
2025-10-25 · 10 min read
Tracking Urban Sprawl with Satellite Time Series: How Cities Grow from Space
How multi-decadal satellite records document urban expansion patterns, the methods for mapping impervious surface growth, and what sprawl metrics reveal about sustainable development.
2025-09-18 · 7 min read
Land Cover Change Detection: Methods for Tracking How Earth's Surface Evolves
A practical guide to satellite-based land cover change detection methods — post-classification comparison, image differencing, time series analysis, and object-based approaches. When to use each and expected accuracy.
2025-08-23 · 7 min read